Sheet-guide adjustment



Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

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SHEET GUIDE ADJUSTMENT.

mwucmxou FILED lUNEZB, 1916.

Patented. Feb. 1, 1921.

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J; I v v5) A UNITED STATESPATENT, OFFICE.

JOSEPH R. BLAINE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS,ASS1GNOR TO NIIEHLE IERINTINGPRESS & MANUFACTURING COMP'ANY, OF CHICAGOQILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLI- NOIS.

SHEET-GUIDE ADJUSTMENT. 1

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Application filed-June 23, 1916. Serial No. 105,323.

To all who m it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn citizen of the United States, residing at OakPark, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew itjilQlllSG- ful Improvements in Sheet- Guide Adjust ments, of whichthe following is a specification.

With few exceptions, it has been customary heretofore to feed the sheetsindividually to a printing press against substantially stationary gagesor guides, so that during the travel 'of the paper it is necessarilystopped in its,movement, at least momentarily, to secure the desiredregistration. In such cases the inertia of the paper must be instantlyovercome when the grippers of the impression cylinder, which areconstantly traveling at full speed, grasp the sheet and transfer it tothe cylinder. As will be appreciated, in a structure of that characterthe gages and grippers must operate with great precision to secureregistration of the sheet and its transfer or clamping to the rapidlytraveling impression cylinder. In other words, when a sheet of paper isgaged and gripped ina press of this kind the stationary sheet hasinstantaneously imparted to it the full speed of travel of theimpression cylinder periphery, which renders accurate registrationdifficult if not impossible. Moreover, an instant before the grip persclose, the guides must get out of the neiy,-leaving the sheetuncontrolled during this instant, affording a further chance for errorin getting accurate register. 1

In my Patent No. 1,292,968 dated January 28, 1919 I have set forth aconstruction having for its object the provision of means for securingaccurate front and side registr' tion of sheets fed to. a printingcouple without stopping the sheet in its forward movement and atsubstantially the speed of thesheet taking grippers and the impressioncylinder, whereby the full speed capacity of the press is utilizedwithout its being limited in any way by the necessary registering process, while the correct registry of the sheet is in no way impaired bythe speed of sheet travel. 1 V a In the several. forms of constructionahove referred to revision was made for adjustingthc posi en of thefront and side gages in order to secure accurate registenbut to makesuch ad ustment it was necessary for R. Q BLAINE, a-

forms adopting it to other forms of sheet:

will hereinafter appear.

the press-man noting any inaccuracy, to stop the press, make theadjustment as nearly correct as could be estimated, start the press,note whether the adjusted position was the correct one, and possiblyagain stop the press to nlore accurately adjust the gage. By the presentinvention the adjustment is effected while the press is running wheneverit is found that the register is inaccurate due to atmosphericconditions or any other cause.

in order that the invention may be readily understood 1 have illustratedand described a, preferred embodiment of the same inconnection with aform of registering mecha nism of that type shown in my patent abovereferred to, it being understood that its field of usefulness is notthus limited, and that the invention is readily susceptible ofembodiment'ln other and varied constructional register mechanisms. Inthe drawing-:-

Figure 1 1s a plan view of a front reglstering and adjusting mechanismembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the same in side eleva-s tion, with the revolvingparts displaced 90 from the position shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail; and 1 Figs. 41 and 5 are views similar to Figs. 1and 2 showinganemhodiment ofthe side registering and adjustingmechanism.

Front reg inter.

suitably mounted. in the framcof the press a shaft driven aspeedcorresponding with that of the shaft of the impression cylinder.

in arm 16 is keyed upon the shaft 15 by means of an extended boss 16wher'eon 1S loosely mounted a collar 17 held stationary by means of anarm 18 which takes over the fixed rod 19 extending between the sideframes of the press. The statlonary collar 17 hears cams 20 and 21 thepurpose of which Loosely mounted upon sai d boss 16* of the arm 16 is agage arm 22 carrying the front gage 23 and having pro ecting therefromlugs 24, 25 to the former of which is fulcrumed by thepivot 26 an anglelever 27, 28,

front edge and adjacent each side.

while the lug 25 serves as a mounting for a swivel block 29 screwthreaded for engagement by a screw 30 mounted within a bearing yoke 31and having thereon a worm wheel 32. Fulcrumed on the gage arm 22 by thepivot 33 is an angle lever 34, 35. The arm 28 of the first mentionedangle lever carries aroller 36 adapted to travel on the cam 20 while thearm'34 of the other angle lever carries a roller 37 adapted to travel onthe cam 21;.

To the arm 27 of the first angle lever is connected by means of a pin'38and a slot 39 an arcuate shoe 40 extending laterally from another arm 41which is likewise loosely mounted upon the boss 16 To the extreme frontend of the shoe 40 is pivoted at 42 by means of a link 43 and a secondpivot 44 the lower end of a rod 46 which latter is mounted to slidewithin a swivel block 47 'mounted at 48 in the outer end of'the arm 35of the second angle lever. The link 43 has projecting beyond its pivot42 a flipper 49, the purpose of which will hereinafter be made clear. Aspring 50 serves to hold the roller 36 against its cam while a similarspring 51 serves the same purpose with reference to the roller 37.

It should be understood that the shaft 15 extends the full width ofthe'pre'ss and that a counterpart of the mechanism above de scribedis'mounted upon the said shaft 15 and the rod 19 near the two sides ofthe press, that is to say, separated a distance slightly less than thewidth of the paper to be fed, so that a front gage-is provided foreffecting register of the sheets at the The b0sses16 areslidablelongitudinally upon the shaft 15 so as to properly position the tworegistering mechanisms in order to act upon the sheet at the properpoint of the latter. The position of each having been determined, thearm 16 is clamped upon the shaft 15 by means of the set screw device 52acting in an obvious manner.

In order to provide for the adjustment of the front gages 23 of the twomechanisms in exact transverse alinement and in the proper positionlongitudinally to effect accurate front register, the arm 16 hasjournaled therein ashaft 52 having formed thereon a worm 53 in mesh withthe worm wheel 32' and also carrying a star wheel 54, which latter canbe manually rotated when the press is standing idle to position the gage23 by'swinging the gage arm 22 toward or from the fixed arm 16 by meansof the screw 30.

In order to effect this adjustment while the press is running,-there ismounted on the arm 18 a shift rod 55 slidable in guides 56, 57 having atits one end a handle 58 and intermediate its length a trip 59 (Fig. 3)having a nose 60 normally held out of the orbit of the star wheel 54 bya spring 61 acting on a tail piece 62 but arranged to be projected intosaid orbit by double cam surfaces 63, 64 when the rod is shifted in itsguides 56, 57. It will be understood that when the rod 55 is in itsmedial position with the tail piece 62 between the two cam surfaces 63,64, the tripping device will clear the star wheel, whereas if it isshifted to the left the trip will be tilted bythe cam 63 and will engagethe star wheel outside the axis of. the latter, and if shifted to theright, it will be tilted by the cam 4 and will engage the star wheelinside the axis of said wheel. Thus, in the intermediate position of thetrip, the star wheel is :leared and the adjustment of the gage 23 isunaffected, while shifted to the left the star wheel will be rotated inone direction and in the opposite direction when the trip is shifted tothe right, the gage 22 being grad-- ually advanced or retracted relativeto the grippers, according as the rod 55 is shifted in one direction orthe other, until the pressman ascertains that the gage. is properlypositioned, when he will shift the rod to the intermediate inoperativeposition.

The press being now in motion, the gage arm 22 revolves and carries withit the front gage 23 at a peripheral speed corresponding exactly to thatof the grippers upon the inipression cylinder by reason of its beingtied to the arm 16 by means of the screw 30. The angle levers 27, 2S and35, 36 likewise revolve with the arm 22, being fulcrumed theretorespectively at 26 and 33.

As the sheet 66 is fed to the press its front edge comes against thefront gage 23 or approximately in that position, usually within asixteenth to a quarter of an inch therefrom. The roller 37 riding uponthe cam 21 acts through the lever 34-, compressing the spring 67 andthus resiliently a ting upon the links 43 and the flipper 49 whereby thelatter is elosed upon the forwa d end of the sheet 66 frictionallygripping the same between the flipper and the lower face of the shoe 40,the degree of said spring pressure being regulable by means of theknurled nut 68.

ill]

ll il Immediately thereafter the roller 36 at its forward edge betweenthe flipper 49 and the shoe 40 1S likewise advanced until it comes incontact with the gage 23 where upon meeting with this obstruction thesheet conforms to the speed of the while the shoe 4O continues to moveat a faster speed.

The front gage 23 continues its movement at the speed of the grippers onthe impression cylinder, the sheet being held against the shoe 10 andabutting the gage 28 by the flipper 19 until the grippers on theimpression cylinder have gripped the forward end of the sheet. Thistransfer takes place on the tangent point of the shoe 10 with theimpression cylinder 13 so that the flipper 49 and the grippers 14: canboth be acting on the sheet at the tangent point, and in fact an instantlater. During the next oneeighth inch travel of the cylinder beyond thetangent point, the shoe 40 has moved the flipper forward out from underthe sheet so that the latter is left free to continue its path on theimpression cylinder. The roller 37 then clears the high part of cam 21and the flipper 49 is opened by the action of the spring 51 and is thenready to receive the next sheet as it comes into position. Similarlyroller 36 clears the high part of cam 20 and spring 50 restores thelever to its original position with the shoe 40 retracted indicated,ready for the next cycle.

Side register.

Upon the shaft 15 outside the two mechanisms for effecting frontregister of the sheet as above described, is a similar organ ization ofmechanism for effecting side register of the sheet (Figs. 4 and 5). Herein the side gage arm is keyed to the shaft 15 by means of an extendedboss 70, and a similar collar 17 is loosely mounted upon the boss 70 andheld in stationary position by means of the arm 18 embracing as beforethe shaft 19. This collar is provided with a cam 71 in one plane andanother cam 72 in a different plane. The side gage arm 70 carries theside gage 74-, the position of which is adjustable transversely of thepress and longitudinally of the shaft 15 by means of a spindle 75journaled at 76 and 77 in a bearing arm 78 clamped on the rod 19 by theclamp screw 79, the spindle having a knurled head 80 and provided withworms 81, 82 in mesh respectively with worm wheels 83, 84: on shafts 85,86 transversely journaled in the bearing arm 78 and having their ends inthreaded engagement at 87, 88 with the arm 18.

Transversely slidable within the gage arm 70 is a shoe 89 carrying aroller 90 which works within an oblique slot 91 of an angle lever 92,93, the opposite arm of which lever has a roller 94 arranged to travelupon the cam 71-. The other end of the shoe 89 opposite the roller 90has pivoted thereto at 95 an arm 96 connected by means of a rod 97 witha link 98 pivoted at 99 to the shoe 89, which link 98 is extended toform a flipper 100. The rod 97 is surrounded by a compression spring101, the tension of which is adjustable by means of the knurled nut 102.A coil spring 103 much stifi'er to the action of the front register.

opposite arm 107 of said lever has an offset portion provided with aninclined face 110 adapted to engage the arm 96 whereby to oixen andclose the flipper 100.

In use, the flipper is normally closed being held in this position bythe tension of y the springs 101 and 103. As the sheet is approachedapproximately to the gage 23 for front register as previously describedthe cam roller .109 rides upon the cam 72 opening the flipper 100 toallow the side edge of the sheet to pass and to offer no hindranceregister having been obtained the roller 109 rides off the cam 72closing the flipper 100 upon the sheet 66 at the side thereof. Shortlythereafter the roller 94 rides upon the cam 71 bringing the oblique slot91: to

bear through the roller 90 upon the shoe 89, drawing the sheet 66 to theleft, as shown in Fig. 4, against the side gage 74, the flipper slidingupon the sheet during the further lateral movement of the flipper andshoe after the side registration of the sheet.

At the moment the grippers close on. the sheet. the flipper 100 stillhas hold of the sheet and during the next one-eighth inch of travel ofthe cylinder, the flipper slips off the sheet and. allows it to passfreely to the impression cylinder. The flipper then remains closed untilthe next cycle starts. After the sheet is taken the roller 94- ridesofi' of high part of cam 71 bringing the shoe 89 back to its startingposition.

If the pressman'finds that the side register is imperfect due to theside gage being inaccurately positioned laterally of the sheet path, hewithout stopping the press, turns the head 80 of the spindle to the leftor right as may be indicated and thus through the worms 81, 82 and theworm wheels 83, 8 1 acting through the shafts 85,

86 shifts the collar 17 and with it the side i gage 74 into a properposition so that the register is perfect.

I claim: 1

1. In a printing press, the combination with the impression cylinder,and its grippers, of means for imparting front register to a sheet fedto the cylinder comprising a gagesupport moving forwardly with thesheet, a micrometer connection between the gage and support, andstationary means to actuate the micrometer mechanism to vary theadjustment of said connection whereby to advance or retard the positionof the while the press is in motion.

2. In a printing press, the combination Front with the impressioncylinder, and its grippers, of means for imparting front register to asheet fed to the cylinder comprising two arms mounted for revolutionabout a common center, a gage carried by one of the arms and travelingin an orbit to which the plane of the sheet path is tangent, amicrometer connection between the two arms, and stationary means toactuate the micrometer connection whereby to advance or retard theposition of the gage in its orbit while the press is in motion. 7

3. In a printing press, the combination with the impression cylinder,and its grippers, of means for imparting front register to a sheet fedto the cylinder comprising two arms mountedfor revolution about a commoncenter, a gage carried by one of the arms and traveling in an orbit towhich the plane of the sheet path is tangent and at a speedcorresponding substantially to that of the grippers, a micrometerconnection be tween the two arms, a star wheel on the micrometerconnection, a stationary trip device mounted adjacent the orbit of thestar wheel, and means to shift the trip device from a position to clearthe star wheel to engaging positions on both sides of the orbit of thestar wheel axis to effect the periodic rotation of the latter in eitherdirection at will whereby to advance or retard the position of the gagein its orbit while the press is in motion.

4:. In a printing press, the combination with the impression cylinder,and its grippers, of means for imparting front register to a sheet fedto the cylinder comprising two arms mounted for revolution about acommon center, a gage carried by one of the arms and traveling in anorbit to which the plane of the sheet path is tangent, and at a speedcorresponding substantially to that of the grippers, a micrometer screwconnection between the two arms including a worm and worm wheel, a starwheel on the axis of the micrometer screw connection, a stationary tripdevice mounted adjacent the orbit of the star wheel, and means to shiftthe trip device from a position to clear the star wheel to engagingpositions on both sides of the orbit of the star wheel axis to effectthe periodic rotation of the latter in either direction at will wherebyto advance or retard the position of the gage in its orbit while thepress is in motion.

5. In a printing press, the combination with the impression cylinder,and its grippers, of means for imparting front register to a sheet fedto the cylinder comprising two arms mounted for revolution about acommon center, a gage carried by one of the arms and traveling in anorbit to which the plane of the sheet path is tangent, and at a speedcorresponding substantially to that of the grippers, a micrometer screwconnection between the two arms including a worm and worm wheel, a starwheel on the axis of the micrometer screw connection, a shift rodmounted in stationary guides, a trip device mounted on the shift rod,yielding means normally holding the trip device in a position to clearthe star wheel, means cooperating with the shift rod as the latter isshifted in one direction or the other to project the trip device intoengaging position with the star wheel on one side or the other of theorbit of the star wheel axis to effect the periodic rotation of thelatter in either direction at will whereby to advance or retard theposition of the gage in its orbit while the press is in motion.

6. In a printing press, the combination with the impression cylinder,and its grippers, of means for imparting front register to a sheet fedto the cylinder comprising two arms mounted for revolution about acommon center, a gage carried by one of the arms and traveling in anorbit to which the plane of the sheet path is tangent, and at a speedcorresponding substantially to that of the grippers, a micrometer screwconnection between the two arms including a worm and worm wheel, a starwheel on the axis of the micrometer screw connection, a shift rodmounted in stationary guides, a trip device rockingly mounted on theshift rod, a spring normally holding the trip device rocked in aposition to clear the star wheel, and a pair of cam surfaces arranged toact on the trip de vice in opposition to the spring as the rod isshifted to project the trip device into engaging position with the starwheel on one side or the other of the orbit of the star wheel axis toeffect the periodic rotation of the latter in either direction at willwhereby to advance or retard the position of the gage in its orbit whilethe press is in motion.

7. In a printing press, the combination with the impression cylinder,and its grippers, of means for imparting side register to a sheet fed tothe cylinder comprising a side gage moving forwardly with the sheet, andstationary means to shift the side gage laterally of the sheet pathwhereby to position the same while the press is in motion.

8. In a printing press, the combination with the impression cylinder,and its grippers, of means for imparting side register to a sheet fed tothe cylinder comprising a Side gage moving forwardly with the sheet, astationary gage support, a micrometer connection between the gage andsupport, and means for actuating the micrometer mechanism whereby toshift the gage laterally with reference to the sheet path while thepress is in motion.

9. In a printing press, the combination with the impression cylinder,and its grippers, of means for imparting side register to a sheet fed tothe cylinder comprising a side gage moving forwardly with the sheet, astationary gage support, a stationary gage abutment, a micrometer screwconnection between the gage support and abutment, and means to actuatethe micrometer mechanism to shift the abutment and with it the gagelaterally of the sheet path whereby to position the gage while the pressis in motion.

10. In a printing press, the combinatmn with the impression cylinder,and its grip pers, of means for imparting side register to a sheet fedto the cylinder comprising a side gage moving forwardly with the sheet,a stationary gage support, a stationary gage abutment, a micrometermechanism connecting the support and abutment and including worms andworm wheels, and means to actuate the micrometer mechanism whereby toshift the gage abutment and with its gage transversely of the sheet pathto adjust the position of the gage while the press is in motion.

11. In a printing press, the combination with the impression cylinder,and its grip pers, of means for imparting side register to a sheet fedto the cylinder comprising a shaft, a gage arm mounted on the shaft torotate therewith but 'slidable axially there on, a gage carried by thearm and moving forwardly with the sheet, a stationary support, anabutment collar loosely mounted upon the shaft and bearing against thegage arm, a micrometer screw connection between the support and abutmentcollar, and means for actuating the micrometer mechanism whereby toshift the abutment collar and with it the gage arm longitudinally of theshaft to position the gage laterally of the sheet while the press is inmotion.

12. In a printing press, the combination with the impression cylinder,and its grippers, of means for imparting front and side register to asheet fed to the cylinder con1- prising gagesupports moving forwardlywith the sheet, front and side gages adjustably connected to thesupports, and stationary means to vary the adjustment of saidconnections whereby to adjust the po sition of the gages while the pressis in motion.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in. the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH IR. BLAINE.

VVitnesses Lnwis 'l. Grnnis'r, MILTON T. MILLER.

